BUSINESS Secretary Vince Cable has stressed the need for more healthy cookery lessons across the country, saying they are an "imaginative and forward-looking" idea that can help tackle the nation's obesity problem.

The Lib Dem minister today visited a school in his Twickenham constituency, where one of many ‘Let’s Get Cooking’ schemes have been set up.

The schemes, which have received more than £44,000 in funding from the Health Lottery, teach youngsters and their parents the importance of healthy cooking and gives them the opportunity to show off their talent in the kitchen.

Also present at the Twickenham Academy, was Health Lottery founder Richard Desmond, who hailed the "fantastic" contribution the club was making to the community.

The pair heard that more than 37,000 people have benefitted from the healthy cooking clubs across the country.

Praising the contribution of the Health Lottery, Mr Cable said: "What they are doing here is trying to bring in the local community so the kids are learning cooking skills and they are bringing in their parents.

"It's a really great idea and I am delighted to be here to support it.

"There's a role for charitable funding. I have seen some of the things the Health Lottery has done and it seems to me to be doing really great work and coming up with innovative ideas and I very much welcome its contribution.

LEARNING: Mr Desmond talks to children about what they have learned in the class [MARK MOODY]

“I have seen some of the things the Health Lottery has done and it seems to me to be doing really great work”

Vince Cable, Business Secretary

He added: "There's no point just lecturing people and saying you should eat less food. You have got to make sure the next generation understand what's healthy food and the best way of doing that is in the kitchen.

"What's happening here is parents and their children being brought together - it's a really imaginative and forward-looking idea."

Youngsters showed off their cooking skills for the special guests, and both Mr Desmond and Mr Cable donned aprons to learn some cooking skills for themselves.

Mr Desmond, who is also owner of the Daily Star, was delighted to see both boys and girls taking part in the project, and said he wish he had received similar lessons when he was a child.

He said: "It's fantastic to get kids learning to cook like that and the healthy aspect is very important as well."

It is not just youngsters which can take part in the classes, as initiatives such as "Lads and Dads" encourage father and son cooking time.

One pupil, 12-year-old Kathleen, said that her culinary skills had improved so much since she joined the club six weeks ago her family encouraged her to cook more often.

She said: "I have made blueberry muffins, some other sweet treats and omelettes.

"I tried doing cooking before but it was not as good as now.

"I like Heston Blumenthal; I like his crazy ideas."

Cat Sheppard, regional manager for London in the Children's Food Trust, which runs the project, said the confidence of youngsters and adults grow thanks to the project, as well as their cooking skills.

She said: "It makes everything worthwhile."

The Health Lottery through HealthFreedom has to date raised £717,995 for good causes in Mr Cable’s constituency of Twickenham and surrounding areas.

Some 166 school projects have been funded by Children's Food Trust schemes across the country - totalling £1,269,861.

CLASS: Special guests pose with students at Twickenham Academy during the fantastic event [MARK MOODY]